I used to think perfectionism was wanting to edit “one last time” too many times.
I now believe perfectionism can spoil my whole writing process and cause undue stress.
So here are some pitfalls that to be a consistently good writer for learning you must avoid.
Perfectionism becomes unhealthy when you mix it with self-doubt and undermine your creative productivity. To speed up and enjoy your writing, become a writing pragmatist . . .
- Idea Generation
(a) A perfectionist aims to find THE best idea
(b) A pragmatist finds a good idea and runs with it.
Modlette Tip: To vet your ideas, ask yourself
- Does this help my learners?
- Do I feel excited to write this?
2. Research
(a) A perfectionist aims to write the definitive learning
(b) A pragmatist aims to share a useful learning experience.
Modlette Tip: To avoid endless research
- Narrow down your topic
- Focus on what you know
- Don’t get carried away on tangents
3. Outline
(a) A perfectionist wrestles to fit “everything” into an outline
(b) A pragmatist follows a proven template to create an outline
Modlette Tip: A simple outline
- Intro and objective – out lining a problem
- Main body – explain the steps to solve it
- Conclusion – inspire learners to implement your advice.
4. First draft
(a) A perfectionist wants to write perfect sentences
(b ) A pragmatist focuses on getting ideas on paper
Modlette Tip: Feeling stuck? Set the timer on your phone, write “ugly draft” at the top of your page, and get your fingers moving by typing nonsense.
5. Revision
(a) A perfectionist is appalled at the flaws in their first draft
(b) A pragmatist notices what’s good already and improves the rest.
Modlette Tip: When revising, focus on one task at a time: improve focus, enhance flow or add examples to clarify your points.
6. Edit and Proofread
(a) A perfectionist frets over minor blemishes
(b) A pragmatist prioritizes communicating with clarity
Modlette Tip: Proofread on paper, read your text aloud, or read it backwards to spot spelling mistakes.
7. Publish
(a) A perfectionist listens to her inner critic
(b) A pragmatist is excited to help her learners
Modlette Tip: Create a mini-checklist to evaluate whether your content is ready for loading into your Modlette.
- Your content is valuable to learners
- You’ve done your best (given the time available)
- You’ve checked for silly mistakes
Happy and successful pragmatism.